NY Racing Team attempted to qualify for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway but failed to make the field. However, they returned the following weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
At Atlanta, J.J. Yeley was involved in a crash that forced the No. 44 Chevrolet out of the race. As a result, the team did not compete in the following events at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Phoenix Raceway, or Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The team made its next appearance at Homestead-Miami Speedway last weekend, where Yeley finished in 35th place. This was his first official result since finishing in the same position at Phoenix in the 2024 season finale and his best finish since placing 27th at Talladega in October.
As expected by many fans, NY Racing Team will not be competing in this Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway.
In 2024, the team made 10 entries and started nine races, primarily with Yeley as the driver. They only ran consecutive races once, making it their busiest Cup Series season in terms of entries since 2014 (11) and their most active season in terms of actual race starts. A similar part-time schedule is expected in 2025, but no further race plans have been confirmed beyond last Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400.
Since Cup Series races rarely have more than 40 entries outside of the Daytona 500, NY Racing Team is likely to secure a spot whenever they choose to compete, even as a non-chartered (open) team. In 2024, they did not make their second start until May’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so their 2025 schedule is already ahead of last year’s pace.
For this Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, two open teams are on the entry list, neither of which has raced in a Cup Series event this year. Burt Myers will drive the No. 50 Chevrolet for Team AmeriVet, while Casey Mears will pilot the No. 66 Ford for Garage 66.
Both of these teams failed to qualify for the preseason Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium, and Garage 66 also did not qualify for the Daytona 500.
